Figma Design for beginners: Add your layers to a frame

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of adding layers to a frame in Figma, a fundamental skill for organizing elements in your design projects. By utilizing frames, you can create cohesive designs that are easier to manage and manipulate. This is especially useful for beginners looking to enhance their design workflow.

Step 1: Create a Frame

• Select the Frame Tool from the toolbar or press the shortcut key F.
• Click and drag on the canvas to define the size of your frame or click once to create a frame of a preset size.
• Adjust the frame's dimensions in the properties panel on the right to fit your needs.

Step 2: Add Layers to the Frame

• Select the layers you want to add to the frame. You can do this by holding the Shift key and clicking on each layer.
• Drag the selected layers into the frame in the layers panel. You will see the layers nest under the frame.
• Alternatively, you can right-click on the selected layers and choose "Add to Frame" from the context menu.

Step 3: Organize Layers within the Frame

• Once your layers are added, you can rearrange them by clicking and dragging within the frame in the layers panel.
• To maintain an organized structure, consider naming your layers descriptively by double-clicking their names in the layers panel.
• Use groups to further organize related elements within the frame. Select the layers you want to group and press Command + G (Mac) or Ctrl + G (Windows).

Step 4: Adjust Frame Properties

• With the frame selected, explore the properties panel to customize your frame. You can change:
  • Fill Color: Add a background color to your frame.
  • Stroke: Add outlines to your frame for better visibility.
  • Effects: Apply drop shadows or blurs to enhance the design.

Step 5: Use Frames for Layouts

• Frames can also be used to create grids or layouts. To do this:
  • Create multiple frames for different sections of your design (e.g., header, body, footer).
  • Use smart selection to align and distribute frames evenly by selecting them and using the alignment tools in the toolbar.

Conclusion

Adding layers to frames in Figma is essential for effective design organization. By following these steps, you can create structured and visually appealing designs. As you continue working with frames, consider exploring advanced features like auto-layout to further streamline your design process. For more in-depth learning, check out the full Figma Design for Beginners course linked in the video description.